Of course, I could make my life a heck of a lot easier by choosing to embrace my natural, ever-darkening hair color. (Think the most dishwater-y of dishwater blonde.) But since I’ve always been some iteration of light blonde and would probably have a full-blown identity crisis if I asked my amazing L.A.-based colorist, Cass Kaeding, to take me au naturel or anything else, I’m sticking to my high-maintenance roots. (Hey, if you like what you like, why change it?)
Since I’ve insisted on being at least five to 10 shades lighter than what naturally wants to grow out of my head, purple-tinted products have been a nonnegotiable part of my haircare routine. But—prepare yourself—I actually don’t love purple shampoos. In fact, there is only a handful I’ll even touch. Purple conditioners and masks (especially purple hair masks), however, are where it’s really at, folks.
Not only do purple-tinted masks sit on your strands longer than shampoo does (thus working their brass-neutralizing magic more effectively), but these types of nourishing formulas usually offer more benefits as a whole. In fact, all of my favorites—which we will get to in a second—yield tons of other hair perks like hydration, shine, improved scalp health, damage repair, and so much more.
All purple hair masks are unique and have their own set of instructions, but as long as you follow the specific product’s protocol, I guarantee you’ll be so much happier with the results from a purple mask than your go-to shampoo. Another fun fact? My absolute favorite purple hair mask is just $11 and can be found at pretty much any drugstore. Keep scrolling! The 13 best purple hair masks to kick unwanted yellow and orange tones to the curb are just below. Oh, and because I get asked about my haircare routine in its entirely quite frequently, I added that to the bottom of the article just for kicks.
I might be ultra-high-maintenance when it comes to my hair, but I’m not lying when I say this classic formula from Clairol is one of the best, if not the best, purple hair masks I’ve ever used. (And I’ve tried them all!) The signature violet shade keeps blonde strands brass-free and shimmery, but the formula is also deeply hydrating to fend off straw-like dryness. If I didn’t know better, I’d think the $11 price tag was some kind of mistake.
I have yet to try a disappointing hair product from R+Co, so it’s really no surprise the brand’s purple toning mask is another one of my all-time favorites. If you’re into luxe hair products, you’ll flip for the nutrition-spiked ingredient list, which features a powerful antioxidant vegetable complex—composed of violet, rosemary, and lavender—tons of hydration thanks to shea and murumuru butters, and strategic hits of hydrolyzed pearl extract and apple fruit extract for an extra dose of shine, softening, and brightening power.
If you want a purple hair mask that leans more into the strengthening and repair side of the spectrum, I highly recommend this strand-mending option from Unite Hair. It boasts that trademark hue of violet to tone and kick brassiness to the curb while simultaneously strengthening, restoring, and brightening blonde locks in one fell swoop.
I know it’s bad, but I hit peak laziness whenever I need to pack for a trip, and more often than not, I’d rather just pick up some cheap hair products on the fly than spend time bottling and carefully packing all of my prized hair possessions. I discovered this affordable purple hair mask while visiting my family in Arizona recently, and I can safely say it holds its own against its more expensive counterparts. It also provides noticeable softness and shine to stressed-out strands.
Pre-pandemic, I had a deep-rooted ritual of visiting my closest Drybar boutique for a weekly blowout. And tacking this toning treatment onto my wash at the bowl was one of my favorite indulgences. Now, I just keep the brand’s bottle in my shower at all times for the same satisfying hit of brass busting at a fraction of the price per use. The rich purple pigments and crushed pearl neutralize yellow and orange tones, and extra-smart additions such as lemon and chamomile take the brightening and lightening benefits to another level.
John Freida’s drugstore-found Violet Crush line is iconic, but I’d actually suggest snapping up this purple toning mask before going all in with the matching shampoo and conditioner. (It’s just that effective on its own!) Plus, it only has to sit on your hair for one minute, making it the ultimate choice for the peeps out there who are perpetually short on time but praying for a miracle.
Believe me—I get it. Sixty-nine dollars is a spine-tingling investment for something as simple as a purple hair mask. But let me just say this: Shu Uemura’s violet-tinted concoction isn’t your average blonde hair mask. In fact, it transforms strands in every direction. From nixing stubborn yellow pigments to repairing damage, it utilizes unique Japanese technology and white peony to instantly makeover muddled color. Not to mention, you’ll fall head over heels for the lush fragrances composed of ginger, jasmine, and white musk leaves. Want hair that smells as good as it looks? This is that girl.
Amika is another one of those haircare brands that you really can’t go wrong with, and I always feel safe recommending its products even if I haven’t personally tried them. That said, I have most definitely tried and relied on this top-rated purple hair mask. Obviously, it does a wonderful job of toning and brightening up blonde hair, but it’s also highly reparative, and just one application results in hair that is eight times more conditioned and two times stronger with 56% less breakage. Impressive, right? If you go heavy on the color treatments or styling tools, consider this blonde hair mask a nonnegotiable within your routine.
I’ve been a longtime fan of Redken’s Color Extend Blondage line, and this highly pigmented anti-brass mask gets a 10/10 rating from me. For those who crave the coolest-of-the-cool shade of blonde, this five-minute masking ritual will take you there.
This vegan purple hair mask from Verb knocks out brassiness, damage, and color fading all in one go. Plus, the ingredient list reads more like a multivitamin than a hair product—think strand-improving MVPs like açaí, provitamin B5, and sunflower-seed extract.
Christophe Robin is a cult-loved name in the beauty industry, and while I might be a tad biased, this color-correcting purple mask is my forever-favorite staple from the French stylist’s namesake line. Shea butter, sweet almond, and buriti oil come together to make this mask equal parts nourishing and brass busting. The cherry on top? This mask has an acidic pH of 4.5 to address and reduce porosity, fix natural oxidation, and evenly distribute product color.
Split ends, unwanted yellow tones, damage, and breakage don’t stand a chance against Kérastase’s divine purple hair mask. Regardless of your hair type or texture, this potent blend of hyaluronic acid, edelweiss flower, and ultraviolet neutralizers resurrects that fresh-from-the-salon finish on lightened, highlighted, cool-blonde, bleached, or gray hair.
If you’re looking for a purple toning mask that’s a little less aggressive on the pigment scale, try this yummy, buttery lavender mask from Better Not Younger. It’s great for anyone seeking respite from brassiness and does an A+ job on gray, platinum, cool-blonde, and silver hair. It even has special additions like folic acid to encourage a happier, healthier scalp for optimum hair growth.
